Dial indicator



Nov. 9, 1965 R, PlsToLEs 3,216,118

DIAL INDICATOR Filed June 14, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY Nov. 9, 1965 R. PlsToLEs 3,216,118

DIAL INDICATOR Filed June 14, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

LAMBERT R PISTO LES.

ATTORNEY Nov. 9, 1965 Filed June 14, 1965 L. R. PISTOLES DIAL INDICATOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 E e6 l n by 25a i s2 f f \256 INVENTOR. LAMBERT R P|5TOLES ATTORN EY Nov. 9, 1965 L. R. PxsToLl-:s 3,216,118

DIAL INDICATOR Filed June 14, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 illysglgi Y A |09 kmgw.

un los BIB 32o mj 324 F1613 35021,` 306 if *w 0l@ 34 E a 300306 Q 94 316 FIG.|4

82 FIG. I2 INVENTOR,

LAMBERT R. PISTOLES ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3,216,118 DIAL INDICATGR Lambert Robert Pistoles, 1548 W. Brooks Drive, New Orleans, La. Filed June 14, 1963, Ser. No. 287,945 20 Claims. '(Cl. 33 172) This invention relates to pin type gages having a dial indicator, with provision for electrical indication.

The present invention is directed to a pin type gage, wherein the pin actuates a dial indicator, and in which the movement of the pin may be restricted within limits so that the movement may be set so as to not exceed that required to rotate the ydial indicator through one complete revolution over its 360 degree scale. Further, the invention has to do with providing electrical indications taken directly from the pin movement, independent of the dial indicator, and in which the limits imposed upon the pin movement to cooperate with the means to provide such electrical indications.

The above and Aother novel features of the invention will appeaer more fully hereinafter from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is expressly understood that the drawings are employed for purposes of illustration only and are not designed as a definition of the limits of the invention, reference being had for this purpose to the appended claims.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like parts:

FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through the gage;

FIGURE 2 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line 2 2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a somewhat enlarged, fragmentary sectional view through a modified cap actuator for the gage of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 6 6 of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View of an alternative, electrical contact cap applied to the upper end of the gage;

FIGURE 8 is a transverse sectional View taken on the line 8 8 of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 is a transverse sectional View taken on the line 9 9 of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 10 is an electrical circuit diagram yfor use with the alternative cap shown in FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 11 is a side elevational view of a gage, with parts in section showing a modified work contact element;

FIGURE 12 is a longitudinal sectional view through a modified form of gage;

FIGURE 13 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the application of the electrical contact cap to the form of FIGURE 12;

FIGURE 14 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 14-14 of FIGURE 12; and

FIGURES 15 and 16 are alternative tips.

Referring to the drawings there is shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, a gage having a frame or housing 20 for a dial indicator, to which is detachably secured, a transverse member 22, having a gaging face 24. Extending through the frame, and member 22, on an axis perpendicular to the face 24, is a gaging pin mechanism, comprising a rack sleeve 26, slidably mounted in bushings 28 and 30, the sleeve having rack teeth 32 engaging the drive pinion 34 of a gear train 36, which actuates the gage indicator lCC 38 over the dial `face 40. The sleeve 26 is prevented from rotating in the bushings 28 and 30, by an arm 42 that extends into a slot 44 of a bracket 46 mounted on the back wall of the frame member 20.

In order to limit the travel of the sleeve to correspond to the dial range, or a portion thereof, as desired, a ro tatable plug 48, having an eccentric stop pin 50, adapted to limit movement of the arm 42, is provided. Such plug is positioned in an aperture 52 in the back Wall of the housing, and is provided with a conical walled annular groove 54 and a screw driver slot 56. Disposed in a threaded aperture 58, angularly disposed with respect to the aperture 52, is a threaded locking member 60 having a nylon locking tip 62 adapted to frictionally bear upon the conical face of the groove 54.

Movement of the sleeve 26 may also be limited in the other direction, by a stop pin 64, having an eccentric stop 66 on its inner end disposed in a slot 68 in the sleeve 26. Rotation of the pin by the knob 70 atlixed to the exposed end, will vary the eccentric to vary the limit of downward movement imposed upon the sleeve. An annular groove 72 in the pin 64 is arranged approximately tangential to an aperture 74 extending transversely to the axis of the pin 64. Such aperture is enlarged and threaded at its outer end to receive a threaded member 76 adapted to bear upon a nylon friction plug or slug 77 which holds the pin 64 axially against movement, and provides frictional resistance against pin rotation, dependent upon the pressure applied by the threaded member 76.

Disposed Within the sleeve 26, is the upper end .of a gage pin 78 having a head 80, the underside 4of which bears on the upper end of the sleeve 26. The head has a wrench socket 81. Such pin is slidable within the sleeve, and at its lower end, the pin has a reduced diameter threaded portion 82 on which is threaded a collar 84, the collar being disposed within a cylindrical cavity 86 in the lower end of the frame 20. Such collar has- Spanner apertures 88, and may have a nylon plug, not shown, bearing against the gage pin threads to frictionally hold the same against the shoulder 89. The collar has an outer flange 92, and a helical spring 93 rests upon the ange and bears against a nylon shock washer 94, disposed against the bushing 30. A helical spring 96 on the gage pin 78, which bears against the collar 84, and the bushing 98 in the lower end of the sleeve 26, urges the gage pin 78, and sleeve to move together, except that on upward movement, the pin may yieldingly over travel the sleeve, after the sleeve movement has reached its upper limit.

At its upper end the gage housing may be provided with a removable cap 100 held in place by the cone end 102 of a set screw 104, and the upper end of the gage pin 78 may have a threaded aperture 106 to receive the threaded shank 108 of a pin lift rod 109 projecting outwardly through an aperture in the cap, Where it is provided with a knurled grip 110.

The lower end of the gage pin is provided with nylon friction inserts 111, and may be fitted with varying gaging members. As shown in FIGURE 1, a gage rod 112 is threaded on the pin to provide up to a half inch of adjustment, and is provided at its llower end with a circular gaging disk 114 affixed thereto by the screw 116. Such disk is of a predetermined thickness and has plannar faces, and may be used to explore the accuracy of an internal groove such as G in the bore of a work piece W. The thickness of the disk may correspond to the minimum axial length of the groove. By manipulation of the lift, it can be ascertained if the groove is axially wide enough to receive the disk, and noting the dial reading, it can be ascertained if the lower Wall of the groove is at the correct distance from the face 24, or within allowable tolerances, and by lifting stem 110, the groove width can be checked. Rotation of the rod 112, and its overall travel may be limited by the slot 113 and nylon tipped set screw 115, with nylon lock 117.

If desired, the lift member and cap 100 may be removed from the housing and gage pin, and a cap such as that shown in FIGURE 5 applied. Such cap 120 is applied to the housing and held by the same cone set screw 104. The cap has an axial bore 124 in which reciprocates the shank 126 of a screw, the lower end of which is threaded into the end of the gage pin 76. Surrounding the bore 124 is an annular fulcrum 125 over which is disposed a thin flexible nylon or mylar lever washer 128 disposed beneath the head 130 of the screw 126. The outer edge of the washer bears. against an annular shoulder 1132 in a second push cap 134, the annular skirt 136 of which slidably embraces the cylindrical outside wal=l of the cap 120. One or more radial holding screws 140 with their heads projecting outwardly into the annular internal recess 141 in the skirt 136 allow limited movement of the push cap. A helical spring 142 is disposed within the push cap and bears lightly against the washer. The push cap is assembled about the housing cap and held thereon by aligning screw head apertures 144, with the screw or screws 140, at which time the screws are outwardly screwed to the position shown from a temporarily completely recessed position in the cap 120. The screws 140 may have a friction lock nylon insert such as 145. It will be seen that with the aforesaid cap 120, with its push cap 134, the gage, when adjusted to test an annular internal groove, such as G, can be operated at will so as to move the gage pin far enough to test for allowable tolerances, by depressing the push cap, which operates the disk as a lever to move the gage pin, over fulcrum 125, to lift screwhead 130.

By replacing the cap 100, or 120 with a cap such as 150, as shown in FIGURE 7, the gage may operate with electric signals to indicate whether the work pieces fall within, or below or above the tolerances allowable. In the form shown, the upper end of the gage pin 78 is provided with a contact disk 152, insulated as at 154 from the gage pin 78, and the disk having a threaded shank 156, threaded into a nylon adapter 158, which is threaded into the threaded bore in the gage pin end. The cap 150 is provided with a shoulder 160 in which is seated an insulating-block 162, having apertures such as 164 and 166 to slidably receive the contactpins 168. The upper end of the block has transverse slots 170, of a Width to receive square nuts 172 threaded on the pins 168 and a keying plug 161. Such nuts are split and resiliently grip the threads to frictionally hold any setting. The outer ends of the pin 168 have wrench flats 174 which extend into complemental recesses in the spring pressed plungers 176 which extend outwardly through the cap 150, where they are provided with knurled knobs 178. The helical compression springs 180 bearaagainst a flange 18.2, and an annular contact member 183 on the underside of the cap end 184. The plungers have an internal contact member Isoldered therein, which bear against: and make contact with the ends of pins 168. y

Four such plungers, and contacts 168 may be provided as is indicated' in FIGURE 8. Each of the contact members 183 is provided with a lug as shown in FIGURE 9, and a cluster of four leads 186 extend out of the cap from each lug, together with a common lead 188, extending to the central pin 190 having a head 192 recessed in the underside of the plug 162. The head 192 is connected to the disk 152 by a helical compression spring 194, the ends of which may be soldered to the disk and head 192, if desired for perfect contact. Similarly the springs 180 may have their ends soldered to the respective flanges 182 and contacts 183, if desired, to assure perfect contact.

By rotation of the knobs 178, the respective contact pins 168. are threaded inwardly or outwardly in their respective split nuts 172 so asto vary the spacing between their contact ends and the disk. Thus as the disk 152 rises by reason of movement of the gage pin during a gaging operation, the contacts are successively made with the pins 168 indicated as A, B, C, and D, in FIGURE 10. When contact A is made, lamp 200 is energized through closed relay switches 202, 204 andl 206 and battery 208, connected through lead 188 to contact disk 152. When contact B is made, lamp 210 is illuminated and relay coil 212 energized through closed relay switches 214 and 216, and contacts 202 are opened by relay operation, extinguishing lamp 200. When contact C is made, lamp 218 is energized through relay coil 220, and closed relay contacts 222, and contacts 204 and 214 are opened to extinguish lamps 200 and 210, and when contact D is made ilamp 224 is illuminated through relay coil 226, which opens contacts 222, 216 and 206, which extinguished lamps 200, 210 and 218. Thus the contacts A, B, C, and D, can be set to indicate any desired sequence of gage pin positions and lamps will indicate the location of the gage pin when gaging a particular work piece. Such indicating lamps may be located on a panel or at any point readily visible to an operator, and the lamps render it unnecessary to read the gage dial. While a battery 208 is indicated, it will be understood that the source of energy may be plugged into any standard atlernating current supply, or low voltage derived therefrom as by a transformer to eliminate sparking at the contacts.

In FIGURE ll, there is a modified form of contact element applied to the stem 82 and frame 20` of the gage. Threaded upon stem 82 is a plunger 250 slidably disposed in a guide sleeve 252, having guide bushings 254 and 256. T-he sleeve may be brazed to a mounting plate 258 which can be detachably affixed to the gage frame 20 by threaded fastening members, in the same manner shown in FIG- URE l, for the attachment of the member 22 to the frame 20. Rotation, and limitation on the overall movement of the plunger 250 is controlled by the setscrew 260, sliding in the groove 262. The tip end of the plunger is provided with an abutment member 264 having a spherical recess against which a hardened ball contact member 266 bears, and the ball is confined in position by a plurality of fingers 268. A variety `of contact members, as will be understood in the art, may be employed as desired, to meet the exigencies and varying requirements.

In FIGURE 12, there is shown a gage structure of simplified construction wherein the rack sleeve 300 is shortened, and is resiliently urged upward, by compression spring 302 bearing against the housing 303. The upper end of the sleeve 300 bearsv against a shoulder in the form of a snap ring 304 disposed in an annular groove 306 in the modified pin 308. The pin 308 is slidable in upper and lower guide bushings 310 and 312 set in the housing 303; The lower end of the pin has a shoulder 314 and threaded shank 82 on which is threaded the collar 84, in tight engagement against the shoulder 314. A nylon shock washer 94 is provided, and a compression spring 316 between the Collar and washer urges the pin 308 downward, with a force several times as great as that urged by spring 302,.

The upper end of the pin 308 is provided with a shoulder stop in the form of snap ring 318 set in an annular groove 320, the ring 318 engaging the upper bushing 310, to limit downward travel. The end of the pin is provided with a wrench socket 322, and an internal threaded bore 324, to receive the threaded shank 108 of the lift rod 109 with its knurled grip 110.

T-he upper end of the pin 308 is also provided with external threads 326 to receive an electrical Contact block assembly, as shown in FIGURE 13. As before, by removing cap 100, and lift rod 109, and applying the contact block assembly of FIGURE 13, and the contact cap of FIGURE 7, the gage provides electrical indications as well .as visual dial indications. The contact assembly comprises a conducting icap 331 having a contact face 333, Spanner wrench holes 334, and a central annular socket 336 for the light spring 194. Within the cap is an insulating washer 338 of nylon or other suitable material, which is held in place by an insulating bushing 340, which may also be of nylon. The bushing is secured in the cap by one or more radial pins 342, and the bushing is internally threaded as at 341, for application to the threaded end 326 of the gage pin 308. The cap has a central aperture 344 through which a wrench may be extended to reach the wrench socket 322, so that the cap can be applied or removed from the pin 308 by application of a suitable spanner and wrench. When the contact cap assembly is in position, the cap 150 (see FIGURE 7) is located on the gage housing, and locked in place by the setscrew 104.

In FIGURES and 16, tips providing for adjustment are shown. The tip of FIGURE 15 is applicable to the dial indicator rod 112 of FIGURE l, whereas the form shown in FIGURE 16 may be applied directly to a gage pin with slight modication thereof. Referring to FIG- URE 15, the rod 112 is provided with an extension having a shank 350 threaded into the spindle 112. The shank has a knurled grip 352, and a threaded shank section 354, the latter being interrupted by a turned down cylindrical section 356, of reduced diameter. Threaded over the section 354 is a sleeve 355, which may be of soft stainless steel, having an enlarged central section 358, which may be knurled as desired. The enlarged section is provided with a radial bore 360 in which is threaded a set screw 362, having a nylon tip 364, frictionally engaging the cylindrical section 356. The degree of friction applied through the nylon tip may be closely regulated by the set screw 362, and the tip may also frictionally hold the set screw. The tip end of the sleeve 355 may have a hardened end contact button 365, which may have a short shank 367 projecting into the sleeve end. The button may be silver soldered, brazed, or otherwise aflixed to the sleeve end. The reduced diameter portion 356 is provided with a shoulder 369 at its lower end to provide a stop to engage the tip 364 when the sleeve is extended to its lower limit. In FIGURE 16, the gage spindle 380 is shown as modified to correspond With the threaded shank section 354 of FIGURE 15, the sleeve being identical, except for purposes of illustration, the tip 382 has a spherical end face.

While a single form of the invention with several modied variations thereof are illustrated and described, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. As various changes in the construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, reference will be had to the appended claims for a definition of the limits of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A dial indicator comprising a housing having an axial bore extending therethrough, a sleeve slidable in said bore and having rack teeth, dial indicating mechanism mounted in said housing and driven by said teeth, a guide arm projecting laterally from said sleeve, a bracket mounted in said housing having a guide slot extending parallel with said sleeve and into which said arm extends, and adjustable eccentric stop means disposed in said housing and coacting with said arm to limit movement of said sleeve in one direction, a slot in said sleeve, and a second adjustable eccentric mounted in said housing coacting with an end of said slot to limit movement of the sleeve in t-he other direction, .and a gage pin slidably disposed in said sleeve, and having a head at one end bearing on an end of said sleeve, and having a threaded shank on the other end to receive a gage rod, and means to yieldingly urge said pin head into contact with the sleeve end.

2. A dial indicator comprising a housing having an axial bore extending therethrough, a sleeve slidable in said bore and having rack teeth, dial indicating mechanism mounted in said housing and driven by said teeth, a guide arm projecting laterally from said sleeve, a bracket mounted in said housing having a guide slot exending parallel with said sleeve and into which said arm extends, and adjustable eccentric stop means disposed in said housing and coacting with said arm to limit movement of said sleeve in one direction, said stop means having a cylindrical body portion having an annular groove journalled in an aperture in said housing, and a friction lock bearing in said annular groove, and means threaded into said housing at an angle to said aperture to apply pressure on said lock.

3. A dial indicator in accordance with claim 1 having a cap disposed over one end of the housing bore adjacent the pin head end, and having a central aperture therein coaxial with said bore, an annular fulcrum ridge disposed on said cap concentric with said aperture and spaced therefrom, a flexible fulcrum disk of a diameter greater than said ridge and having a central aperture, a screw extending through said disk and cap apertures and affixed in the gage pin end, and having a head bearing against said disk, and a slidable push cap disposed over said housing cap having an annular shoulder bearing on the periphery of said disk, and means for slidably retaining said push cap on said housing cap.

4. A dial indicator in accordance with claim 1 having a cap disposed over one end of the housing bore adjacent the pin head end, a block mounted within said cap and bearing on one side against the housing end, an electrical contact member mounted on the gage pin head, a plurality of contact members slidably mounted in and extending through said block and extending parallel with the axis of said gage pin, threaded stops on said members adapted to bear against the other side of said block, and yielding means for each of said contact members disposed between the block and cap end for urging said members toward said contact disk, and means in said cap for rotating each of said members independently to adjust the location of the contact ends of said members relative to said disk.

5. A dial indicator comprising a housing having an axial bore extending therethrough, a sleeve slidable in said bore and having rack teeth, dial indicating mechanism mounted in said housing and driven by said teeth, a guide arm projecting laterally from said sleeve, a bracket mounted in said housing having a guide slot extending parallel with said sleeve and into which said arm extends, and adjustable eccentric stop means disposed in said housing and coacting with said arm to limit axial movement of said sleeve, and a gage pin slidably disposed in said sleeve, and having a head at one end bearing on an end of said sleeve, and having a threaded shank on the other end to receive a gage rod, and means to yieldingly urge said pin head into contact with the sleeve end.

6. A `dial indicator comprising a housing having an axial bore extending therethrough, a sleeve slidable in said bore and having rack teeth, dial indicating mechanism mounted in said housing and driven by said teeth, adjustable eccentric stop means disposed in said housing and coacting with an abutment on said sleeve said stop means having a cylindrical body portion having an annular groove journalled in an aperture in said housing and frictional locking means disposed in a second aperture in said housing and bearing on said groove, and a gage pin slidably disposed in said sleeve, and having a head at one end bearing on an end of said sleeve, and having a threaded shank on the other end to receive a gage rod, and means to dyieldingly urge said pin head into contact with sleeve en 7. A dial indicator in accordance with claim 6 having a cap disposed over one end of the housing bore adjacent the pin head end, and having a central aperture therein coaxial with said bore, an annular fulcrum ridge disposed on said cap concentric with -said aperture and spaced therefrom, a flexible fulcrum disk of a diameter greater than said ridge and having a central aperture, a screw extending through said disk and cap apertures and affixed in the gage pin end, and having a head bearing against said disk,

and a slidable push ca-p disposed over said housing cap having an annular shoulder bearing on the periphery of said disk, and means for slidably retaining said push cap on said housing cap.

8. A dial indicator in accordance with claim 6 having a cap disposed over one end of the housing bore adjacent the pin head end, a block mounted within said cap and bearing on one side against the housing end, an electrical contact member mounted on the gage pin head, a plurality of contact members slidably mounted in and existing through said block and extending parallel with the axis of said gage pin, threaded stops on said members adapted to bear against the other side of said block, and yielding means for each of said contact members disposed between the block and cap end for urging said members toward said contact disk, and means in said cap for rotating each of said members independently to adjust the location of the contact ends of said members relative to said disk.

9. A dial indicator comprising a housing having an axial bore extending therethrough, a sleeve slidable in said bore and having rack teeth, dial indicating mechanism mounted in said housing and driven by said teeth, adjustable eccentric stop means disposed in said housing and coacting with an abutment on said sleeve to limit axial movement of the sleeve, and a gage pin slidably disposed in said sleeve, and having a head at one end bearing on an end of said sleeve, and havingv a threaded shank on the other end to receive a gage rod, and means to yieldingly urge said pin head into contact with sleeve end.

10. A dial indicator in accordance with claim 9 having a cap disposed over one end of the housing bore adjacent the pin head end, and having a central aperture therein coaxial with said bore, an annular fulcrum ridge disposed on said cap concentric with said aperture and spaced therefrom, a exible fulcrum disk of a diameter greater than said ridge and having a central aperture, a screw extending through said disk and cap apertures and aixed in the gage pin end, and having a head bearing against said disk, and a slidable push cap disposed over said housing cap having an annular shoulder bearing on the periphery of ysaid disk, and means for slidably retaining said push cap on said housing cap.

11. A dial indicator in accordance with claim 9 having a cap disposed over one end of the housing base adjacent the pin head end, a block mounted within said cap and bearing on one side against the housing end, an electrical contact member mounted on the gage pin head, a plurality of contact members slidably mounted in and extendingthrough said block andv extending parallel with the axis of said gage pin, threaded `stops on said members adapted to bear against the other side of said block, and yielding means for each of said contact members disposed between the block and cap end for urging said members toward said contact disk, and means in said cap for rotating each of said members independently to adjust the location of the contact ends of said members relative to said disk.

12. A dial indicator comprising a housing, a gage pin extending through said housing and slidably disposed within upper and lower guide bushings mounted in the housing wall, means on the upper end of said pin for limiting downward movement of the pin, and resilient means below said lower bushing for urging said pin downwardly, a sleeve disposed within said housing and slidably mounted on said pin, shoulder means upon said pin above said sleeve, and resilient means below said sleeve and mounted around said p in for urging said sleeve upwardly into engagement with saidA shoulder means, a guide arm projecting laterally from said sleeve, a bracket mounted in said housing, having a guide slot extending parallel with said pin and coacting with said arm to prevent rotation of said sleeve, a rotatable adjustable stop disposed in said housing having an eccentric pin extending across the path of travel of said arm to limit upward movement of said sleeve, rack teeth on said sleeve, and dial indicator means mounted in said housing having a pinion engaging said rack teeth.

13. A dial indicator comprising a housing, a gage pin extending through s'aid housing and slidably disposed within upper and lower guide bushings mounted in the housing wall, a snap ring on the upper end of said pin adapted to engage the upper bushing for limiting downward movement of the pin, and resilient means below said lower bushing for urging said pin downwardly, a sleeve disposed within said housing and slidably mounted on said pin, a snap ring upon said pin above said sleeve, and resilient means below said sleeve and mounted around said pin for urging said sleeve upwardly into engagement with said shoulder means, a guide arm projecting laterally from said sleeve, a bracket mounted in said housing, hav ing a guide slot extending parallel with said pin and coacting with said arm to prevent rotation of said sleeve, a rotatable adjustable stop disposed in said housing having an eccentric pin extending across the path of travel of said arm to limit upward movement of said sleeve, rack teeth on `said sleeve, and dial indicator means mounted in said housing having a pinion engaging said rack teeth.

14. A dial indicatorcomprising a housing, a gage pin extending through said housing and slidably disposed within upper and lower guide bushings mounted in the housing wall, a snap ring on the upper end of said pin adapted to engage the upper bushing for limiting downward movement of the pin, and resilient means below said lower bushing for urging said pin downwardly, a sleeve disposed within said housing and slidably mounted on said pin,y a snap ring upon said pin above said sleeve, and a coil spring mounted around saidv pin below said sleeve and engagingv said sleeve and housing for urging said sleeve upwardlyv into engagement with said last named snap ring, said coil spring being of insullicient strength to overcome said resilient means, a guide arm projecting laterally from said sleeve, a bracket mounted in said housing, having a guide slot extending parallel with said pin and coacting with said arm to prevent rotation of said sleeve, a rotatable adjustable stop disposed in said housing having an eccentric pin extending across the path of travel of said arm to limit upward movement of said sleeve, rack teeth on said sleeve, and dial indicator means mounted in, said housing having a pinion engaging said rack teeth.

15. A dial indicator comprising a housing having an axial bore extending therethrough, a gage pin extending through the bore and slidably disposed within upper and lower bushings mounted in the housing wall, a cap disposed over one end of the housing bore adjacent one end of the pin, and having a central aperture therein coaxial with said bore, an annular fulcrum ridge disposed on said cap concentric with said aperture and spaced-V therefrom, a flexible fulcrum disk of a diameter greater than said ridge and having a central aperture, a screw extending through said disk and cap apertures and aixed in the gage pin end, and having a head bearing against said disk, and av slidable push cap disposed over said housing cap having an annular shoulder bearingon the periphery of said disk, and means for slidably retaining said push cap on said housing cap.

16. A dial indicator comprising a housing having an axial'bore extending therethrough, a gage pin extending through the bore and slidably disposed within upper and lower bushings mounted in the housing wall, a cap disposed over one end of the housing bore adjacent the end of the pin, a block mounted within said cap and bearing on one side against the housing end, an electrical contact member mounted on the gage pin end, a plurality of contact members slidably mounted in and extending through said block and extending parallel with the axis of said gage pin, threaded stops on said members adapted to bear against the other side of said block, and yielding means for each. of said contact members disposed between the block and cap end for urging said members toward said contact member, and means in said cap for rotating each of said members independently to adjust the location of the contact ends of said members relative to said contact member.

17. A dial indicator in accordance with claim 12 having a cap disposed over one end of the housing bore adjacent the pin head end, and having a central aperture therein coaxial with said bore, an annular fulcrum ridge disposed on said cap concentric with said aperture and spaced therefrom, a ilexible fulcrum disk of a diameter greater than said ridge and having a central aperture, a screw extending through said disk and cap apertures and ailxed in the gage pin end, and having a head bearing against said disk, and a slidable push cap disposed over said housing cap having an annular shoulder bearing on the periphery of said disk, and means -for slidably retaining said push cap on said housing cap.

18. A dial indicator in accordance with claim 12 having a cap disposed over one end of the housing bore adjacent the pin head end, a block mounted within said cap and bearing on one side against the housing end, an electrical contact member mounted on the gage pin head, a plurality of contact members slidably mounted in and extending through said block and extending parallel with the axis of said gage pin, threaded stops on said members adapted to bear against the other side of said block, and yielding means for each of said contact members disposed between the block and cap end for urging said members toward said contact member, and means in said cap for rotating each of said members independently to adjust the location of the contact ends of said members relative to said contact member.

19. A work contact tip for use with gages of the type described comprising a shank having two externally threaded end portions, with an intervening cylindrical portion of reduced diameter disposed between the two portions, a tip sleeve threaded upon both portions, and having a work contact tip in the end thereof, said sleeve having a transverse threaded bore intermediate its length, a plug threaded in said bore, said plug having a nylon tip frictionally bearing against said cylindrical shank portion.

20. A gage in accordance with claim 12 having a work contact tip comprising a shank having two externally threaded end portions, with an intervening cylindrical portion of reduced diameter disposed between the two portions, a tip sleeve threaded upon both portions, and having a work contact tip in the end thereof, said sleeve having a transverse threaded bore intermediate its length, a plug threaded in said bore, said plug having a nylon tip frictionally bearing against said cylindrical shank portion.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,476,713 7/49 Emery 33-172 2,977,685 4/61 Biro et al. 33--172 3,011,462 12/61 Ritter et al 74-526 ISAAC LISANN, Primary Examiner. 

5. A DIAL INDICATOR COMPRISING A HOUSING HAVING AN AXIAL BORE EXTENDING THERETHROUGH, A SLEEVE SLIDABLE IN SAID BORE AND HAVING RACK TEETH, DIAL INDICATING MECHANISM MOUNTED IN SAID HOUSING AND DRIVEN BY SAID TEETH, A GUIDE ARM PROJECTING LATERALLY FROM SID SLEEVE, A BRACKET MOUNTED IN SAID HOUSING HAVING A GUIDE SLOT EXTENDING PARALLEL WITH SAID SLEEVE AND INTO WHICH SAID ARM EXTENDS, AND ADJUSTABLE ECCENTRIC STOP MEANS DISPOSED IN SAID HOUSING AND COACTING WITH SAID ARM TO LIMIT AXIAL MOVEMENT OF SAID SLEEVE, AND A GAGE PIN SLIDABLY DISPOSED IN SAID SLEEVE, AND HAVING A HEAD AT ONE END BEARING ON AN END OF SAID SLEEVE, AND HAVING A THREADED SHANK ON THE OTHER END TO RECEIVE A GAGE ROD, AND MEANS TO YIELDINGLY URGE SAID PIN HEAD INTO CONTACT WITH THE SLEEVE END. 